CALS Online and Dean’s Message
January 12, 2026
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS Colleagues and Welcome Back from the Holidays – I hope each of you had wonderful, happy holidays, and feel renewed energy for a great New Year… No doubt this’ll be a busy spring semester with the Iowa State presidential transition underway, watching the Iowa Legislative session…
Top Stories
Engineers Say Automation Will Bring ‘Exciting Changes’
Leaders in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering see huge shifts coming with sensor and AI advancements. In a Dec. 20 article in Iowa Farmer Today, Brian Steward reflected on changes he has seen and what is coming in the ag engineering sector. Steward teaches in the areas of fluid power engineering and technology, dynamic modeling and simulation and solid modeling. He is also in charge of the Danfoss Fluid Power Teaching Laboratory and Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Lab.
Teaching and Students
Scholarships Available to Support Future Agricultural Leaders
The Seed Science Center and the Iowa Seed Association announced that applications are now open for multiple scholarships supporting students pursuing careers in agriculture and seed science. The application deadline is Jan. 23. All CALS students are eligible.
Student Posters Sought for CALS Research Day
Undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are invited to showcase their research and connect with the college community during CALS Research Day on Feb. 3 from 1-5 p.m. in the Student Innovation Center. Students are encouraged to submit poster presentations by Jan. 26. Faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars are also sought to serve as judges.
Extension and Outreach
Planter University Workshops Offered at Five Locations
ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and agriculture and biosystems engineering specialists are bringing planter equipment expertise to farms across the state Feb. 2–6 with Planter University. Specialists from the ISU Digital Ag group will lead each workshop, focusing on small-group, hands-on learning with row units that represent a variety of technologies currently available for planters. The training will be offered at five locations.
Registration Open for 2026 Farm Transitions Conference
The 2026 Farm Transitions Conference is Feb. 5–6 in Ankeny. During the two-day event, attendees will hear from experienced attorneys, farm management specialists, economists and transition experts who understand the unique challenges facing farm families. The conference is hosted by the Beginning Farmer Center at Iowa State.
Around the College
Wanted: Story Ideas
Plans for STORIES magazine 2026 are underway, and we need your story ideas that highlight innovation and entrepreneurship in the agriculture and life sciences fields. Whether it’s someone who launched a startup, invented a new product or drove positive change through innovative thinking, we want to showcase how CALS students, faculty, staff and alums are shaping the future. Submit story ideas to wjsager@iastate.edu by Jan. 30.
Doran Inducted into Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Hall of Fame
Beth Doran, retired beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, was inducted into the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association 2025 Hall of Fame at the Iowa Cattle Industry Convention held in mid-December. She focused on continuing education, and planned and executed Iowa’s Feedlot Forum, which is held each winter in the northwest part of the state.
Nominations for Professorship Awards Due Jan. 15
Nominations for Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor, University Professor and Morrill Professor are due to CALS by Thursday, Jan. 15. Use the online submissions portal under Nominating Instructions and Form on the CALS Honors and Awards website. Contact Alicia Hauser (ahauser@iastate.edu) with questions.
CALS Staff Council Creates New Award
Nominations are sought for the inaugural CALS Peer Award for Leadership and Service. The new award honors staff who consistently go above and beyond in their support of research, teaching and extension, which are at the heart of the university’s land-grant mission. Nominations in the areas of research, teaching, extension, administration/financial support and IT/technology are welcome. Nominations are due by Jan. 31. For questions, contact Katy Heineman (katyh@iastate.edu) or Roger Hintz (rhintz@iastate.edu).
Calendar
Jan. 14: Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
At the Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at noon, Arti Singh, agronomy, will highlight practical AI applications that address pest and weed management as well as improving conservation outcomes.
Jan. 22: Grass2Gas Virtual Field Day
A virtual field day on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. will feature the Grass2Gas initiative, exploring the potential to produce renewable natural gas and related bioproducts through anaerobic digestion of plant biomass and manure. The free event, hosted by Iowa Learning Farms and C-CHANGE: Grass2Gas, will include a live discussion with Hyeonji Song, postdoctoral research associate in agronomy.
Feb. 2: George Washington Carver Day
Iowa State will celebrate the annual George Washington Carver Day of Recognition on Feb. 2 from 5-7:30 p.m. in the Durham Great Hall, Memorial Union. Amanda Williams, visual artist and architect, will present how Carver invented and patented a way to create a famous blue pigment from clay and how she used his process and pigment for a renewal project in New Orleans and other art experiments.
More Events Listed on CALS Website
Find more events on the CALS Events webpage. Submit events for inclusion on this list to madelyno@iastate.edu or jstewart@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
USDA Announces New Priorities for Research and Development
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently signed a Secretary’s Memorandum outlining new priorities for future research and development activities funded by USDA to strengthen national security, protect U.S. agriculture, and support American farmers and consumers. Moving forward, USDA priorities focus on the following five broad research areas:
- Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers
- Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products
- Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species
- Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land
- Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality
Marginalia
Try Some Old-Fashioned Cocoa and Cider Recipes this Winter
When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a cup of something warm. In a Fishwrap blog post, published by Newspapers.com, they searched through old newspapers and found 12 beverages to try this winter.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/cals-online
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Thursday.